Sept. 1, 2012
Final Stats
2 UCLA 2, 14 Wisconsin 0
Drake Stadium • Los Angeles, Calif. | |
 |
| 1st | 2nd | Final | Wisconsin
| 0 | 0 | 0 | | UCLA | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | Scoring | | UCLA | 77:26 | Rosie White (Taylor Smith, Caprice Dydasco) | | UCLA | 89:43 | Zakiya Bywaters | | | Goalkeepers | Min | GA | Sv | | WIS | Lauren Gunderson | 90:00 | 1 | 5 | | UCLA | Katelyn Rowland | 90:00 | 0 | 2 | | | Stats at a Glance | WIS | UCLA | | Shots | 6 | 16 | | Shots on Goal | 2 | 7 | | Saves | 5 | 2 | | Offsides | 1 | 1 | | Corner Kicks | 5 | 6 | | Yellow Cards | 0 | 0 | | Red Cards | 0 | 0 | | |
• Final Stats | Final Stats 
LOS ANGELES -- Despite a nearly flawless performance from senior GK Lauren Gunderson, the No. 11/14 University of Wisconsin women’s soccer team dropped its first match of the 2012 season to the No. 1/2 UCLA Bruins, 2-0, in a battle of undefeated top-15 teams, at Drake Stadium on Friday.
“It’s always disappointing to lose but I was pleased with some of the things I saw today,” head coach Paula Wilkins said. “To be able to play a team like UCLA in a close match, in this environment, was a great learning experience and should bode well for us moving ahead.”
Following 76 minutes of scoreless play and a flurry of highlight saves from Gunderson, the Bruins (4-0-0) eventually found the net on a cross set up by UCLA’s Caprice Dydasco. In the 77th minute, Dydasco found Taylor Smith, who crossed the ball to Rosie White, touching it off of her foot and securing the goal off the far post, as the Bruins took the, 1-0, lead.
| Fast Facts | | • Badgers fall to 3-1-0 | | • UCLA snaps Wisconsin's three-match win streak | | • UW concedes first goals of 2012 season in fourth overall match | |
After outshooting the Badgers, 5-1, in the first half, the Bruins exerted their offensive aggressiveness in the last 45 minutes, tallying 11 shots. Gunderson recorded four second-half saves, leading the Badgers (3-1-0) with five on the night, but was unable to withstand the late surge from the Bruins.
Solid goalkeeping highlighted the first and much of the second half as Gunderson and UCLA’s Katelyn Rowland were constantly tested during the entire 90 minutes of action. Gunderson recorded a save on the only shot on goal in the first half, flashing signs of brilliance during numerous set pieces and scoring opportunities by the Bruins.
“I was really pleased with the team effort as a whole,” Wilkins said. “I think we showed heart and executed our game plan as well as we could have against a very good UCLA team.”
UCLA sealed the victory during the final minute of play, as Zakiya Bywaters trotted the length of the pitch, scoring an empty-net goal as Gunderson played up, looking to give UW the advantage following Kinley McNicoll’s corner kick.
The Bruins snap both Gunderson and the Badgers’ three-match win streak and three-match scoreless streak, as Wisconsin went seven halves before giving up a goal in 2012.
“No loss is a good loss and to play this well and lose is definitely heartbreaking,” Wilkins added. “We will get back to work Sunday and are excited to build off of this and use it as a learning tool as we move through the rest of the season.”
The Badgers return to the pitch on Sunday, as they take on Loyola-Marymount at 2 p.m. CT.
